Hope Ya Know, We Had a Hard Time

  The following video was from a talk given by Elder Quentin L. Cook. I was babysitting some boys in my neighborhood a couple weeks ago, and noticed that there were dozens of conference talks downloaded on their computer. I started listening to some of them after the kids had gone to bed.
     This video on YouTube caught my eye, because I remembered that I had heard the title somewhere... but I couldn't remember where. Then I remembered after watching it... I listened to it while babysitting. It really is a great talk. To read the full address, click here.




     This is like... my third post that focuses on trials. It takes me a lot of research and time to write these posts, but it seems like every time I'm looking for videos or other media... many, many of them are about trials.
     So why is this?
     Well... I think that trials are something that everyone can relate to. No matter how you live your life, how rich or poor you are, or what health you are in... it doesn't matter. You WILL experience great adversity in your life.
   
     One of the greatest questions that people ask in life is... why do good people suffer so much?
     This is a hard question to answer in a way that satisfies the asker, but if they were to go through a hard trial, they would understand.
     Trials make us turn to God.

     I'm not going to type it out in this post, but President Monson wrote an amazing article for the Washington Post on the ten-year anniversary of 9/11.
     PLEASE click here to read it. It is SO good. and it's not even that long.

     But if you don't... he basically points out that in this time of tragedy, a huge percentage of Americans rediscovered the need for God in their lives. He talks about a "surge of faith" that followed 9/11.
     He then talks about how the "renewal of faith has waned in the years that have followed."

     You see... when things were terrible, people felt like they couldn't do it on their own, so they turned to the Lord for grace. People often forget though, the wonderful lessons that they learn through these trials, and the mercy that they felt.

     Trials teach us lessons, and bring us closer to Christ. Always. That is why people suffer.

     Something to remember though, is that your trials will not last forever. Sometimes it feels like it, but remember what we learn in D&C 121...


Joseph Smith is a prisoner in Liberty Jail at the time, while many saints are suffering greatly in Nauvoo. 


He asks in verse one, "O God, where art thou?" And then continues...

2- How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries?

 3- Yea, O Lord, how long shall they suffer these wrongs and unlawful oppressions, before thine heart shall be softened toward them, and thy bowels be moved with compassion toward them?

 4- O Lord God Almighty, maker of heaven, earth, and seas, and of all things that in them are, and who controllest and subjectest the devil, and the dark and benighted dominion of Sheol—stretch forth thy hand; let thine eye pierce; let thy pavilion be taken up; let thy hiding place no longer be covered; let thine ear be inclined; let thine heart be softened, and thy bowels moved with compassion toward us.

 5- Let thine anger be kindled against our enemies; and, in the fury of thine heart, with thy sword avenge us of our wrongs.

 6- Remember thy suffering saints, O our God; and thy servants will rejoice in thy name forever.

And what is his answer?

 7- My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

 8- And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

 9- Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands.

 10- Thou art not yet as Job; thy friends do not contend against thee, neither charge thee with transgression, as they did Job.

     For some reason, I've always liked the part of verse ten that says "Thou art not yet as Job;" You might know the story of Job. He is the ultimate example of staying strong through trials. He lost his family, his property, his health, and more... but through it all, he praised God.

     "Thou are not yet as Job" reminds me that there is always someone going through a trial harder, or just as hard, as mine. It could always be worse.

     And never forget... the Savior atoned for your sins. He has truly been through everything that you will go through. He ALWAYS knows how you feel.     

     And when you are in the heavens, and say, "Hope ya know, we had a hard time..." He will understand.